Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a former Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi, has been hailed as one of the luminaries of the profession having achieved numerous distinctions in her illustrious career.

She holds the honour of being the first lady lecturer to be appointed in the Library & Information Science department of University of Karachi besides being the first lady to earn the doctorate degree in her field from any university of Pakistan.

She has been one of the pillars of the Library Promotion Bureau (LPB) and she has played the pivotal role in transforming the Bazm-e-Akram into an active literary forum of library scientists.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, who has been working tirelessly for the cause of the profession, shared her views on ‘How to make World Book Day count?’ at the webinar organized by Jumbo Publishing to mark the day. Excerpts:

“Jumbo Publishing has lived up to its reputation of being trend-setters by arranging a webinar, the first of its kind to my knowledge in Pakistan, on the subject of World Book and Copyright Day which is so dear to our hearts.”

“Many organizations are now arranging functions to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day in Pakistan to highlight the importance of books which is a healthy and positive sign. Every single effort in the right direction has to be appreciated and those doing it must be complimented.”

‘Jumbo Publishing’s webinar is more significant for the fact that the world is rapidly moving towards e-books, reminding us that we have to come to terms the revolutionary changes having taken place in the publishing world from printed-on-paper text to the virtual world or the digital text.”

“Book publishing is certainly going through its second birth. The passion for reading is being fuelled by e-books now as people feel more comfortable doing it from the screens of their business phones. The greatest thing is that people still desire to read. The tools have changed but the intensity has not dropped.”

Amna Farzand Ali, working as Librarian, at the University of Central Punjab, Lahore, has shown immense promise to be reckoned as one of the emerging stars of the profession of Library & Information Science.

After graduating in arts, she did her Masters in Library and Information Science from the prestigious University of Punjab, Lahore, in 2012. She had worked a librarian at the British Education & Training Systems (BETS), Lahore, before joining the University of Central Punjab.

Amna Farzand Ali shared her views on ‘How to make World Book Day count?’ at the webinar organized by Jumbo Publishing to mark the day. Excerpts:

“It’s very heartening to note that the World Books & Copyright Day is now being celebrated with some kind of enthusiasm in Pakistan too. It’s really important to sustain the momentum in order to promote book culture in the society.”

“While the universities and other educational institutions have worked out different programmes to celebrate the World Books & Copyright Day in a befitting manner, I am gladdened by the initiatives of Jumbo Publishing to hold a webinar on this occasion.”

“Jumbo Publishing has recognized the importance of the librarians and the monumental role we play in encouraging as well as facilitating the people to read. The publishers need to be aware of the importance of the librarians in order to achieve our mutual objective of boosting readership.”

“The publishers can also contribute their bit by organizing walks and seminars or webinars. Then I will suggest them to have some kind of writing competitions that will also motivate the participating children and they will remember it.”

Dr Rubina Bhatti, Chairperson & Associate Professor at Department of Library & Information Science, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, happens to be one of the shining lights of the profession, having distinguished herself with her all-round accomplishments.

Besides being a Director of the Schools Library Association (SLA), Asia Chapter, she is also a member of the University of the Manchester Alumni Association and an approved supervisor of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Despite her preoccupations in holding various programmes on the World Book Day, Dr Rubina Bhatti squeezed some time to share her views on ‘How to make World Book Day count?’ at the webinar organized by Jumbo Publishing to mark the day. Excerpts:

“Well it’s about time to do something beyond holding a walk or a seminar at the university as a mere formality. A lot has to be done in this direction to make the World Books & Copyright Day count in its truest sense.”

“We have been organizing walks and seminars on the World Books & Copyright Day at the university for the past many years, in which the students, researchers, LIS professionals, academicians and intellectuals turn up in large numbers.”

“Realizing that we needed to do more, our research scholars have now started visiting different schools to highlight the importance of culture of reading and to motivate school teachers and students to recognize the role of books from the grassroots level, which is the foremost priority as identified by educationists and LIS experts.”

“We need to spread the mission at all kinds of schools and colleges in every nook and corner of the country. We have to encourage the students to read more than just textbooks. We have to teach them the benefits of reading more and more.”

“All the stakeholders should play their part in accomplishing this cherished goal. Instead of waiting for making things happens let’s try to make them happen ourselves. I acknowledge the contribution of Jumbo Publishing in this regard and it’s my wish that other publishers will take the cue from them to make the World Books & Copyright Day more meaningful.”

Farhana Kousar Abedi, working as Chief Librarian at the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) for the past five years, is regarded as one of the leading library scientists to have emerged from Karachi.

After doing Masters with first division in Library & Information Science from University of Karachi in 1989, she has remained associated with prestigious institutions during the last 25 years.

Farhana Kousar shared her views on ‘How to make World Book Day count?’ at the webinar organized by Jumbo Publishing to mark the day.
Excerpts:

“The World Book and Copyright Day is one of the most important dates in the annual calendar of the library professionals as well as authors and publishers. It’s one day for which they wait and then try to make them special in their own ways.”

“Many authors and publishers plan book launches on this particular day while others celebrate it by holding books promotional events and book exhibitions. It’s a kind of day the bookworms look forward to.”

“I have the feeling that the World Book and Copyright Day could be utilized in an even better way if the mobile libraries, with sound systems, make special appearances to create an environment of books. There should be story-telling sessions for children on streets and let there be a number of road shows as well. These will help in raising awareness about books.”

“The growth in the number of programmes organized by the various institutions, particularly universities and library bodies, in Pakistan augurs well for the future. The initiative of Jumbo Publishing to do a webinar on this subject is truly commendable.”

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Asian Glory, authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, is acclaimed as one of the best books to have been published on the Cricket World Cup 2011 which was rated as the biggest-ever sporting show in the region.

Asian Glory, having chapters covering the various aspects of the previous edition of the tournament besides a brief history of the sub-continental teams in the past nine editions of the World Cup, is now available at Rs 200 only although its cover price is Rs 600.

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Syed Khalid Mahmood’s Reflections, with the author decorating the cover of the book, has remained in high demand among the sports fans. It is a collection his top 50 articles posted on his blog www.skmsports.com during its first 15 months, starting from October 2008 to December 2009.

Reflections, which also contains images of some of the most significant events having taken place in that period, is now available at Rs 200 only although its cover price is Rs 500.

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Cricket Milestones, a statistical compilation by Shahzad Ali Khan, has been attracting the cricket enthusiasts who always take pride in getting hold of such useful record books for reference purposes. It is now available for Rs 100, which is exactly half of its cover price.

Legendary all-rounder Wasim Akram has observed in his foreword to the book that Cricket Milestones contains a lot of records which are never to be broken. Another feature of the book is the section of the first-timers to the various landmarks in all formats of the game, including Twenty20 Internationals.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

One of Jumbo Publishing’s bestselling titles, Cricket Fever, which is a history of the cricket tours between Pakistan and India, is now available for Rs 150, which is half of its cover price of Rs 300.

Cricket Fever, authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, is rated among the top books on the subject of Indo-Pak cricket as it contains reviews of all the Test series played between the two neighbouring countries since 1952-53.

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Mission Caribbean, authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, containing highly useful resource material for the students of the game as it presents brief profiles and photographs of all the 240 participating cricketers from 16 countries, is now available for Rs 100, which is exactly half of its cover price.

Mission Caribbean, published on the eve of the Cricket World Cup 2007, also chronicles the performance of all the participating teams in the past editions of the tournaments.

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Top of the Charts, having the India’s Little Master Sachin Tendukar on its title, is now available at Rs 100 only while its cover price is Rs 500.

Authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, the book contains profile and photographs of the top 25 performers of the Cricket World Cup 2003 which was considered to be the greatest-ever sporting show to have been staged in the continent of Africa.

Jumbo Publishing, as part of the World Book and Copyright Day 2014 celebrations, has offered its books at highly discounted prices and the offer will remain valid until May 23, 2014. The offer, however, is valid in Pakistan only.

Spotlight on World Cup 2003, authored by Syed Khalid Mahmood, which is originally priced Rs 500 is being offered at Rs 100 only.

The hardbound book contains write-ups on the various aspects of the Cricket World Cup 2003, which had taken the African hosts, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe by storm.